Wed, 07 Jul 2010 18:17:53 -0800WeeblyFri, 12 Feb 2010 01:49:54 -0800http://www.sahrafilms.com/1/post/2010/02/winter-come-and-gone.htmlI can't believe it has been more than three months since I've written in this blog. Shameful really.  I vow to write at least monthly updates from now on. A few developments since the Autumn.  I am getting settled in Edinburgh, meeting new people and finding my way about. I have started teaching video production at Stevenson College, an interesting and fun new challenge. I have decided to focus the next few months on really getting a first draft of my feature "Crossing the Pond" down on paper. The idea has been churning in my head for a few years, but it still hasn't quite solidified. Rather than hemming and hawwing about, I think I'm going to take the plunge and just start with a first draft. 
I've just found out today that I won a pitch for a corporate job.  This is something I started ages ago but has taken months to come through.  It went through the steps of treatment, proposal, and pitch presentation.  Next up is sitting down with the client and making sure we're all on the same page.
I feel like February will fly by and soon it will be March and the days will feel longer and there will be buds on the trees and then my favourite season: Spring! I really cannot wait.
]]>Wed, 28 Oct 2009 05:37:57 -0800http://www.sahrafilms.com/1/post/2009/10/sun-and-clouds.htmlI have been feeling quite moody lately.  I am trying to finish a script for this competition and it feels like taming a wild horse to get me to focus.  Write one sentence, check world news, write six more words, post facebook update, re-write two lines of dialogue, make cup of tea...and so forth. It goes without saying that this blog post is guilty of procrastination!  I have to send in the script in two days, so essentially I need to finish it today and spend tomorrow revising. 

In more exciting news, I am writing a proposal for an interesting French company to make a film for their website.  It is nice to learn about new things just by the nature of being a filmmaker.  That is one of the best things about doing corporate films- always learning a bit about a huge range of topics. Forever a generalist, this suits me very well indeed.
]]>Sun, 18 Oct 2009 07:32:32 -0800http://www.sahrafilms.com/1/post/2009/10/busy-bee.htmlThis has been a really busy and productive week.  I randomly/courageously decide to call up a theatre that is located just a few minutes from my new digs in Edinburgh.  It turns out they also produce films and they have a mission of community inclusion and social justice, two areas I'm deeply excited about.  After a long meeting with the company's artistic director, I got started writing a grant proposal for them. They may soon be starting a fascinating feature film project and might have ways that I could get involved.
I also submitted an application for a cross-platform producer course, which seems very 21st century.  I feel like after a decade of coming up with a million little tools, things are finally integrating nicely- and suddenly communication and entertainment and art are merging in perhaps a really good way.  Or maybe it is all crap and all we have to look forward to are mobile phones which play mobile phone adverts that were sh
]]>Fri, 25 Sep 2009 06:18:19 -0800http://www.sahrafilms.com/1/post/2009/09/the-every-expanding-possibilities.htmlThe challenge I am having now with writing scripts is the infinite possibilities in every situation and every character, and a sense that I can't find the right structure anywhere.  I am scouring books, websites and blogs but feel stuck.  Three act structure is clearly a bit passé, but reading John Truby's book on the 22nd steps of a screenplay feels entirely mechanical.  Writing a script is like cooking for me, I have a vision of what I want to create, I look at some recipes for inspiration, and then I improvise along the way.  I guess the problem I am facing lately is knowing what to cook, a hearty stew or chocolate chip cookies?
]]>Sun, 13 Sep 2009 03:23:01 -0800http://www.sahrafilms.com/1/post/2009/09/getting-motivated.htmlIt's a Sunday morning, two days from my birthday.  I've had a lovely week, the unusual sunshine helped out. I have set up my desk now to sit in the bay window of our new flat, thus allowingme to watch the world go by outside and get the maximum light possible. 

I have a million goals for the next few months- mostly involving writing and making films, but also conquering the UK road systems, exploring Scotland by train and cultivating yeast (to make fresh bread).  The first goal is perhaps to meet a few local filmmakers and learn what's going on around Edinburgh.
]]>Fri, 04 Sep 2009 03:50:48 -0800http://www.sahrafilms.com/1/post/2009/09/first-post.htmlI have just been working on creating a new website using Weebly.  I have to say it is pretty simple, thank goodness because my HTML skills are pretty darn rusty.  I remember I made my first website back in 1995 (!) as a freshman in university.  I probably should have kept working on my coding skills, by now I would've been amazing.  Alas, I've been busy with other things.  Hopefully this website and blog will be a good port of call to introduce people to my work and to connect with other filmmakers.  Comments are welcome!
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